The Basic Facts Behind Alopecia

Whether you’re a man or a woman, it can seem like there are a few things that define you: your career, your socio-economic status, your health, and maybe only slightly less important, your hair. As a skin disorder that causes people to prematurely lose their hair, alopecia can be beyond frightening and frustrating. To help you feel more informed about this skin disorder, we have created a brief article discussing the basics of alopecia. Read on to learn more.

What Is Alopecia?

So, you know that alopecia causes you to go bald, but what is this condition exactly? Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that causes an individual’s immune system to attack their hair follicles— leaving them with an increased likelihood of balding. Typically when patients first get alopecia, they suffer from one of two things: large clumps of hair start to fall off of their scalp or their hair starts to dramatically thin. Although hair can grow back after a few months, it will typically come back in a lot finer and white.

How Is Alopecia Treated?

Luckily, if you have alopecia, you can rest assured that you are in good hands with Dr. Toni Stockton at Stockton Dermatology. There are a variety of treatments that Dr. Stockton likes to use to treat this condition including corticosteroid injections and PUVA.

Corticosteroid Injections: By getting these injections directly into the scalp every four to six weeks, it will trigger the hair to grow back.

PUVA- Psoralen with Ultraviolet A Light Therapy (PUVA), is also used to treat alopecia in adults. By taking psoralen and then exposing the skin to UV light, you can encourage the growth of new hair follicles.

Alopecia is a disease that can make you feel embarrassed and self-conscious on a daily basis. If you suffer from alopecia, Dr. Toni Stockton at Stockton Dermatology can help you get back your hair and your self-esteem. To learn more about your treatment options or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Toni Stockton today.